On-line version ISSN 2078-5135Print version ISSN 0256-9574

SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.99 n.3 Cape Town Mar. 2009

To the Editor: The 'patients corner' in the South African Medical Association website prominently displays the following:

COMPLAINTS AGAINST DOCTORS:

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) investigates complaints against medical practitioners on behalf of the public.

Complaints must be lodged in writing to:

The Registrar Health Professions Council of SA PO Box 205 PRETORIA 0001 or on their website: www.hpcsa.co.za.

Of course the HPCSA accepts complaints. So do litigation lawyers, medical aid societies, fraud lines, consumer columns and the South African Police Services. The South African Medical Association at branch level also has an established structure to deal with complaints.

What possible reason has SAMA to prompt complainants to 'mainline' to the HPCSA, knowing full well the time lags, complexities and costs of defending at HPCSA level, imposing (as it does) considerable duress upon SAMA's members? The foundation principle in resolving a dispute is to attempt resolution at the lowest level. If this fails at the level of the individual doctor, the next lowest level to attempt resolution would be within the doctors' association, namely SAMA. Why, then, does SAMA not say this to enquiring laymen?

Perhaps SAMA also plans to advertise litigation lawyers on their website as a fund generator.